Abu Sabaya
Encyclopedia
Abu Sabaya, whose real name is Aldam Tilao (1962 – June 21, 2002) was one of the leaders of the Abu Sayyaf
in the southern Philippines until he was killed by soldiers of the Philippine Army
in 2002. He was a former engineering student and police trainee and had lived in Saudi Arabia
for several years http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2056941.stmhttp://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/DG17Ae01.html.
Prior to his death, the United States
government had placed a USD
5,000,000 reward on his arrest for the May 2001 kidnappings
of two American missionaries and another American who was beheaded. According to the Philippine Army documents, Sabaya had dropped out of a criminology course to join the Moro National Liberation Front
(M.N.L.F.), an Islamic rebel group, who trained him in bomb-making and assassination. When the M.N.L.F. signed a peace treaty with the Philippine government in 1996, Sabaya joined Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia
. Upon his return to the Philippines he came into contact with Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani
, one of the founders of the Abu Sayyaf. Sabaya was accused of several hostage kidnappings. In Basilan
, he was accused of being involved in 13 kidnappings incidents, including that of a Roman Catholic priest, schoolchildren and teachers. In reaction, the Philippine government offered a 5,000,000 peso
reward for his capture.
On June 21, 2002, after being tracked by United States and Philippine forces, Sabaya was confronted by a Special Warfare Group team of the Philippine Navy
. After attempting to evade capture, Sabaya was shot and killed at sea. Four other members of the Abu Sayyaf survived and were arrested during the incident.
Abu Sayyaf
Abu Sayyaf also known as al-Harakat al-Islamiyya is one of several military Islamist separatist groups based in and around the southern Philippines, in Bangsamoro where for almost 30 years various Muslim groups have been engaged in an insurgency for an independent province in the country...
in the southern Philippines until he was killed by soldiers of the Philippine Army
Philippine Army
The Philippine Army is the ground arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Tagalog is Hukbong Katihan ng Pilipinas. On July 23, 2010, President Benigno Aquino III appointed Maj. Gen...
in 2002. He was a former engineering student and police trainee and had lived in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
for several years http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/2056941.stmhttp://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/DG17Ae01.html.
Prior to his death, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government had placed a USD
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
5,000,000 reward on his arrest for the May 2001 kidnappings
May 21, 2001 Abu Sayyaf kidnappings
The Dos Palmas kidnappings was a hostage crisis in the southern Philippines that began with the seizing of twenty hostages from an upscale island resort on Palawan by Abu Sayyaf members on May 27, 2001, and resulted in the deaths of at least 5 of the original hostages, including the two American...
of two American missionaries and another American who was beheaded. According to the Philippine Army documents, Sabaya had dropped out of a criminology course to join the Moro National Liberation Front
Moro National Liberation Front
The Moro National Liberation Front is a political organization that was founded by Nur Misuari in 1969. The MNLF struggles against the Philippine Government to achieve independence of the Bangsamoro Land...
(M.N.L.F.), an Islamic rebel group, who trained him in bomb-making and assassination. When the M.N.L.F. signed a peace treaty with the Philippine government in 1996, Sabaya joined Filipinos working in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
. Upon his return to the Philippines he came into contact with Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani
Abdurajik Abubakar Janjalani
Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani was born on the Philippine island of Basilan to a Muslim-Christian family.Janjalani was most notably remembered as the chief founder and leader of Abu Sayyaf separatist organization until his death in 1998 by Filipino police. Upon his death his brother, Khadaffy...
, one of the founders of the Abu Sayyaf. Sabaya was accused of several hostage kidnappings. In Basilan
Basilan
The Province of Basilan is an island province of the Philippines within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao . Basilan is the largest and northernmost of the major islands of the Sulu Archipelago and is located just off the southern coast of Zamboanga Peninsula...
, he was accused of being involved in 13 kidnappings incidents, including that of a Roman Catholic priest, schoolchildren and teachers. In reaction, the Philippine government offered a 5,000,000 peso
Philippine peso
The peso is the currency of the Philippines. It is subdivided into 100 centavos . Before 1967, the language used on the banknotes and coins was English and so "peso" was the name used...
reward for his capture.
On June 21, 2002, after being tracked by United States and Philippine forces, Sabaya was confronted by a Special Warfare Group team of the Philippine Navy
Philippine Navy
The Philippine Navy is the naval arm of the Armed Forces of the Philippines . Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, literally, "Sea Force of the Philippines"....
. After attempting to evade capture, Sabaya was shot and killed at sea. Four other members of the Abu Sayyaf survived and were arrested during the incident.